Oklahoma men's basketball: Newcomer Buddy Hield hoping to live up to nickname

Freshman Je'lon Hornbeak tried to convince his cohorts that the freshmen are like a one-stop appliance shop. Hield's the microwave, Hornbeak's the stove and Isaiah Cousins is the oven.

They're ready to heat it up and dish it out.

“We the buffet and we deliver,” Hornbeak said. “We're hungry and we're just going to eat.”

During Oklahoma's first two exhibition games, the three freshmen produced, and newcomer Amath M'Baye combined to shoot .591 from beyond the arc (13-for-22) and .517 from the field. Hornbeak averaged 10.5 points per exhibition, while Cousins averaged 7.5.

All three freshmen said they're excited to continue “cooking” in the regular season.

“It's what we live for,” Hornbeak said. “We used to be on the video game playing but now it's not a video game, we actually get to play.”

Still, senior Romero Osby is holding OU's freshman trio accountable. Exhibition production was great, but he emphasized that they can keep the nicknames if they produce.

“Hold on. Hold on. Hold on,” Osby said when he overheard the Microwave nickname for Hield. He wrapped his arm around Hield's shoulder and put his face within inches of the freshman's.

“That's Vinnie Johnson's nickname. To earn that nickname you have to come in, in the NCAA Tournament, knock down shots, in the clutch.”

All the laughter subsided for a second, and Hield looked Osby in the eyes as he said, “Yes, sir.”